Cleaning A Fireplace Chimney

Sweep a chimney:

1. Remove all loose items from the fire surround and the hearth. Cover the fireplace opening with a heavy fabric cover and seal it with duct tape. Also cover nearby flooring and furniture with a dropcloth. From atop the roof, push a chimney brush from the chimney top down toward the fireplace below, moving the brush up and down to loosen debris. Continue pushing the brush down the chimney by adding extension canes and moving the brush to loosen debris. When the brush reaches the bottom of the chimney, withdraw the brush. Allow the dust to settle for at least one hour before removing the cover over the fireplace opening.
2. Use a shop vacuum cleaner to remove debris from the fireplace floor and the smoke shelf.